A big burly samurai comes to a Zen master and says, "Teach me the nature of heaven and hell."

The Zen master looks him in the face and says, "Why should I tell a scruffy, disgusting, miserable slob like you? A worm like you, do you think I should tell you anything?"

Consumed by rage, the samurai draws his sword and raises it to cut of the master's head.

The Zen master says, "That's hell."

Instantly, the samurai understands that he has just created his own hell—black and hot, filled with hatred, self-protection, anger, and resentment. He sees that he was so deep in hell that he was ready to kill someone. Tears fill his eyes as he puts his palms together to bow in gratitude for this insight.

The Zen master says, "That's heaven."

—From Comfortable With Uncertainty by Pema Chödrön.

Tea: My latest Teaview review: Boston Tea Company's Organic Peony White: http://www.teaviews.com/2009/11/09/review-boston-tea-company-organic-peony-loose-white-tea/

11/11/09 I take a moment to acknowledge and honor the sacrifices of the veterans who have served this country, living and dead. I hope for a world in which such sacrifice is no longer necessary, so that all people can live in peace and safety.

I'm guest blogging over at Trisha Wooldridge's LJ on Staying in Love With Your Characters. :-)
http://novelfriend.livejournal.com/96978.html

Title: Wolfram’s Day

Disclaimer: I don't own Kyou Kara Maou

Rate: T for safety

Pairing: Both of Yuuram & Wolfyuu

Genre: A touch of romance, a touch of angst, a touch of humor

Beta Reader: ThinE

Summary:

Wolfram only needs one thing from Yuuri to help him pass through his everyday life, even in the worst day like today.

Read Here:

(Wolfram's Day)

Title: Wolfram’s Day

Disclaimer: I don't own Kyou Kara Maou

Rate: T for safety

Pairing: Both of Yuuram & Wolfyuu

Genre: A touch of romance, a touch of angst, a touch of humor

Beta Reader: ThinE

Summary:

Wolfram only needs one thing from Yuuri to help him pass through his everyday life, even in the worst day like today.

Read Here:

(Wolfram's Day)

Love twilight? Want to be a part of twilight? Join this awesomesauce role playing community!

Is Lauren Mallory domesticating James? Bella has a drinking problem? Did Seth finally lose his virginity? Billy Black DID WHAT?!

Vampires, werewolves, hybrids and humans. Toss in a handful of bad photoshop and you've got http://community.livejournal.com/webroketwilight/82904.html the lulzy side of twilight!

Editor's Note: L. TammyDuckworth, an Iraq War veteran, is assistant secretary for public and inter governmental affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs. She lost both legs and partial use of one arm when a helicopter she piloted was attacked by a rocket-propelled grenade in Iraq in 2004.

Washington (CNN)-- In the Army you live by the Warrior Ethos, which states, "I will always place the mission first. I will never quit. I will never accept defeat. I will never leave a fallen comrade behind."

I am alive today because my helicopter crew lived by these words.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/11/11/duckworth.veterans/index.html?eref=rss_latest

OHAY, newfag here posting some art for the first time on this community. :'3

Well, this is something I've been working on on-and-off for about a week now... I don't usually color, and when I do I tend to hate what the results are.

This is a happy exception. <3 ;; And it's also part of a 100 Themes I'm doing on deviantART, with this one being theme #2, Love.

I got a bit of coloring advice from my friend Rynies over on dA, which was very helpful... I probably wouldn't like this as much as I do if she hadn't helped!

Just a bit of gift art for a friend, Cerelin, on dA. We've been rping recently, and her wolfboy, Jack (the brunette) has managed to win over my hard-assed little bookworm, Tristan (the blond).

They're so ridiculously cute together. c':

I was in a winter mood as well, hence the theme of the picture.

Here's the link to the deviantART submission for any of you who have accounts and perhaps wish to fave it there. :3

Comment and critique are GREATLY APPRECIATED!

A meme. I don't expect anyone to get what these books are 'cause I have an odd collection. :P But y'all are welcome to take a crack at it.

[Take four books off your bookshelf!]
1. Write the first sentence
2. Write the last sentence on page fifty
3. Write the second sentence on page one hundred
4. Write the next to the last sentence on page one hundred fifty
5. Write the final sentence of the book
[Let your friends guess what book it is!]

Book1 (well, this one kind of gave itself away...)
1. The most inhospitable place on Earth is not the middle of the Sahara, with its searing heat and parched landscape.
2. Though the resultant figure loomed menacingly over the group of armed, rain-soaked humans, none of them appeared afraid.
3. Rachet did not carry it as integrated equipment, and surely it was not part of Ironhide's inventory.
4. Your 'rider', my machine, is lifted from an early 1950s American film.
5. "Looks like it's time to practice my Mandarin..."

Book2 (man, this is really making my choice of reading material sound absolutely thrilling...)
1. Time was not linear.
2. The field generators were a meter by a meter and a half in width and weighed over a metric ton.
3. It did not move.
4. Unable to halt herself in mid-motion, she turned her body so that she would hit the floor before he did.
5. He pushed the button.

Book3 (this one was tricky.. I had to get creative about what constituted the end or beginning of a sentence)
1. This is not for you.
2. by images of a complete different woman;
3. its syllabic sweetness, its immigrant pride, a great American epic word really, starting a great blast, the concussive force of the K catching up
4. I'm sorry Hailey.
5. Letting the parade pass from sight, he focuses on the empty road beyond, a pale curve vanishing into the woods where nothing moves and a street lamp flickers on and off until at last it flickers out and darkness sweeps in like a hand.

Book4 (GO ON GUESS THIS ONE I DARE YOU YOU'LL NEVER GET IT)
1. The setting sun was staining the far reaches of the plain, its hue closer to blood than vermilion.
2. The sheriff's eyes had a look that could kill.
3. Pausing a beat, he added, "This is the conclusion I've come to after a humble little investigation that's occupied half this old fool's sixty years--I take this as a challenge from a race that reached the pinnacle and now slides towards extinction."
4. Twisting his lips a bit, Rei-Ginsei sneered, "How sad.
5. Naturally, this didn't faze D in a the least as he and his black coat melted into the morning sun.

More as the Chronoplast turns.

I AM DONE!

Let the studio stuff gather dust for a year, we are done with con Alleys until 2011 THANK JEEZUS. The only con-related things I have to worry about now are how much money I should bring with me when I go for a day and borrow someone's badge to get into the dealer's room and it has never felt more awesome.

Woo! Truck nuts! :D

That said, Neko was more awesome than the rest of the other cons this year put together. We made good moneys, hung out with old friends and new friends and just had a good time in general. For once I didn't walk away with a ton of art I'll never get around to hanging on my wall (I blame this on the fact that I was in overload by all the awesome art this year and couldn't decide what I wanted); I got buttons, some cute little pin-on wings for my bag and a really awesome and warm fleece blanket that Sarah stitched the Heartless symbol into. *nerd* :B She is a one-stop shop for all my Kingdom Hearts fan crackmerch needs.. I only barely restrained myself from buying one of her cute little munny bags. Instead, I got a little plushie metroid that has a hair clip attached to the bottom. It keeps falling out of my hair, tho. :(

The usual cast of characters was a little scattered this year which I think was the only downside. I think I only saw Shadra and Dana a handful of times. :[ But it was nice being sandwiched between Ashley/Mama and Sam/Justin for a change. Also randomly saw Nikki-Puff who I haven't seen since, like.. AiW. How random is that... totally didn't realize it was her at first IT'S BEEN THAT LONG.

But yeah... no real drama, no blow ups, nothing that didn't get sorted out in a timely fashion... GOOD WEEKEND.

Detox has consisted of me sitting around like a lazy ass eating pizza and playing Dissidia... because, really.. 358/2 is a cute game but not exactly high on the replay value. I went out a grand total of once... with Mama to deposit the spoils of war, get lunch and hit up Best Buy for a cord to hook the PSP up to the TV. I'd heard that the 3000s don't like being connected to old TVs, but it's working like a dream. I AM PLEASED. :D

And now.. it's sleepy time. z.z I have to rejoin the world of the working tomorrow... after which I get to see The Men Who Stare at Goats. I expect to be highly amused. :3

More as the Chronoplast turns.

• 10:14 yay for puss oozing from a head wound */sarcasm* #

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter

Title: Talk (Dirty) to Me (9/?)
Rating: MA
Spoilers: AU-AH
Pairing: Edward/Bella
Disclaimer: Not mine, I own nothing. They belong to SM.
Summary: The heat is on...this time in the bookstore!



Here are the links to Ch. 9 at my Ficjournal and FF.net:
LJ FicJournal
Fanfiction.net

Enjoy!